The Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation (AAQEP) has awarded full seven-year accreditation to Stony Brook University for its teacher and school administrator preparation programs. AAQEP’s Accreditation Commission issued the decision after a comprehensive review of the University’s Distributed Teacher and Leader Education (D-TALE) model.
“Receiving AAQEP accreditation is a significant achievement for Stony Brook’s teacher certification and educational leadership programs,” said Terry Earley, Director of Assessment and Accreditation for D-TALE. “It is the result of years of hard work by faculty and staff as well as the exceptional performance of our candidates, especially in their areas of content knowledge.”
AAQEP assures the quality of professional preparation programs through a standards- and evidence-based process that serves two broad aims: accountability and continuous improvement. The association currently has members in 35 states and other jurisdictions with some 190 educator preparation providers participating in the accreditation system.
After reviewing the evidence collected through a process of self-study and peer review, the AAQEP gave its approval, along with the following rationale:
- The Commission evaluated the program’s evidence for each AAQEP standard and determined that all standards are met.
- Stony Brook University maintains program quality by regularly analyzing evidence of its effectiveness and making revisions to benefit candidates.
The Commission added a “commendation” to recognize Stony Brook’s candidates for outstanding performance in the area of content knowledge relevant to the credential or degree sought. This outcome is achieved through D-TALE’s distributed model, in which candidates earn a degree in the content discipline as well as teacher certification.
In their summary, the AAQEP on-site review team wrote, “What is going on at Stony Brook is truly inspirational.”
“Centering preparation in the disciplinary departments ensures strong content knowledge for the teachers prepared through the program” said AAQEP President and CEO Mark LaCelle-Peterson.
“This recognition is a testament to the effectiveness of our distributed model of teacher preparation.” said Earley. “Our unique approach not only prepares candidates with the teaching skills and experience they need for certification, it also equips them with content-focused degrees that will set them apart in the field.”
Photo Caption: Susan Ross, Interim Teacher Certification Officer (left) and Terry Earley, Director of Assessment and Accreditation for the Distributed Teacher and Leader Programs (D-TALE) (right).
About Stony Brook University
Stony Brook University — New York’s flagship university and No. 1 public university — is going far beyond the expectations of today’s public universities. It is part of the State University of New York (SUNY) system. With nearly 26,000 students, more than 2,900 faculty members, more than 200,000 alumni, a premier academic healthcare system and 18 NCAA Division I athletic programs, Stony Brook is a research-intensive distinguished center of innovation dedicated to addressing the world’s biggest challenges. The university embraces its mission to provide comprehensive undergraduate, graduate and professional education of the highest quality, and is ranked as the #58 overall university and #26 among public universities in the nation by U.S. News & World Report’s Best Colleges listing. Fostering a commitment to academic research and intellectual endeavors, Stony Brook’s membership in the Association of American Universities (AAU) places it among the top 71 research institutions in North America. The university’s distinguished faculty have earned esteemed awards such as the Nobel Prize, Pulitzer Prize, Indianapolis Prize for animal conservation, Abel Prize and the Breakthrough Prize in Mathematics. Stony Brook has the responsibility of co-managing Brookhaven National Laboratory for the U.S. Department of Energy — one of only eight universities with a role in running a national laboratory. In 2023, Stony Brook was named the anchor institution for The New York Climate Exchange on Governors Island in New York City. Providing economic growth for neighboring communities and the wider geographic region, the university totals an impressive $7.23 billion in increased economic output on Long Island. Follow us on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/stonybrooku/) and Twitter(@stonybrooku).
